JAVMA News logo

June 15, 2020

In Short

Published on
information-circle This article is more than 3 years old

Kentucky now allowing veterinarians to report animal abuse

A new Kentucky law allows veterinarians in the state to release information in order to report animal abuse. Kentucky had been the only state that did not allow veterinarians to report suspected cases of animal abuse.

The law, signed April 24 by Gov. Andy Beshear, requires veterinarians to report animal abuse and provides for immunity from liability for good-faith reports. Previously, veterinarians could not release information concerning clients or the care of clients’ animals except with client authorization or a court order.

Per the legislation, veterinarians who find that animals have been abused may make a report to law enforcement for any animal aside from on-farm livestock or poultry. In those instances, practitioners may make a report to the state veterinarian for any animal covered under a state standard.

According to the AVMA policy on “Animal Abuse and Animal Neglect,” the AVMA encourages state legislation providing immunity from liability for any veterinarian who reports, in good faith, a suspected case of animal abuse. According to the policy, “Prompt disclosure of abuse is necessary to protect the health and welfare of animals and people.”

The AVMA provides resources for veterinarians about how to respond to animal abuse.

Winn awards $300,000 for feline health studies

In April, the Winn Feline Foundation announced $304,477 in funding for the following 15 feline health studies.

Tabby cat

  • “Mechanism of action of doxycycline in inhibiting feline infectious peritonitis virus.”
  • “Developing a safe and effective anticoronaviral therapy for client-owned cats with FIP.”
  • “Determining the clinical efficacy of methfloquine for treatment of naturally occurring feline infectious peritonitis, stage 1.”
  • “Transcriptomic analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 edited iPSC-CMs to identify and therapeutically target key biological pathways in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by the Ragdoll R820W mutation.”
  • “Investigating cell molecular biological influence of PTC-209, a novel anti-cancer stem cell drug, in cats with oral squamous cell carcinomas.”
  • “Evaluation of oxidative stress in nonazotemic cats with increased symmetric dimethylarginine concentrations.”
  • “Phase 1 clinical trial investigating burst wave lithotripsy for treatment of obstructing ureteroliths in cats.”
  • “In vitro characterization of small molecule inhibitors of pancreatic amyloidosis for diabetic cats.”
  • “The effect of feeding frequency on feline energy metabolism and body composition—a long term study.”
  • “Probing modulation of FeLV integration sites into the cat genome using epigenetic modulators.”
  • “Identification of Microsporum canis virulence factors.”
  • “Development of a rapid diagnostic test for Microsporum canis.”
  • “Effects of general anaesthesia and surgery on renal biomarkers in cats.”
  • “The effect of an intravenous injection of branched chain amino acids on body temperature of cats undergoing general anesthesia.”
  • “Development and initial validation of a frailty scale for domestic cats.”

Dues proposal withdrawn

In light of the need to hold the 2020 House of Delegates regular annual session electronically this summer, the Arizona VMA and nine co-sponsors elected to withdraw a resolution proposing an expansion of the reduction of AVMA member dues for newer graduates (see JAVMA, June 1, 2020).

The Arizona VMA noted that the resolution would likely generate debate on the floor, and withdrawal of the proposal “will make this inaugural attempt at this virtual type of meeting much easier for staff and leadership to manage—and hopefully more successful.”

Please send comments and story ideas to JAVMANewsatavma [dot] org (JAVMANews[at]avma[dot]org).

Related JAVMA content: